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The morning light broke through the dense trees of Shadowhaven, spilling golden hues across the clearing. I stood at the edge of the pack's training grounds, watching the other wolves spar with each other. The sounds of combat—the growls, the grunts, the rhythmic pounding of feet on the ground—filled the air, echoing through the dense forest.
It felt like a different world than the one I had been pulled into. The pack was a well-oiled machine, their movements synchronized and fluid, as if they had been training for lifetimes. I couldn't help but feel small in comparison, like a fragile twig in the midst of a wild storm.
"Aria."
Lucian's voice broke through my thoughts, and I turned to find him walking toward me, his expression unreadable. His eyes were shadowed, but there was something about his presence that sent a rush of warmth through my chest.
"Morning," I said quietly, trying not to let my unease show.
"Ready for your training?"
I hesitated. The truth was, I wasn't sure if I was ready for anything. My wolf, the part of me that I barely understood, still felt like an alien force inside my body, and I feared what might happen if I let it loose. But I couldn't afford to stay in the shadows forever.
"I guess I have no choice," I said, forcing a smile.
Lucian nodded, his lips curling into a faint smirk. "You'll do fine. Just remember what Selene told you—trust yourself."
I didn't respond immediately. Instead, I watched the pack as they went about their training, each one of them moving with such ease, such confidence. What did it mean to truly be a part of this? To be a wolf?
Lucian seemed to sense my uncertainty. "You're not alone in this, Aria. You have us."
His words were reassuring, but they didn't entirely quell the storm of questions swirling inside me. Why had I been chosen for this? What was my role in all of this?
"I'm not so sure about that," I muttered, half to myself.
Lucian's gaze softened, and for a moment, I thought I saw something vulnerable flicker in his eyes. But it was gone so quickly that I wondered if I had imagined it.
"Let's get started," he said, guiding me toward the center of the training ground.
The training was intense. Lucian didn't give me any time to ease into it, pushing me to tap into the wolf that was hidden deep within me. My body shook with every command, every exercise that required me to stretch the limits of my strength and agility.
"Focus, Aria!" Lucian barked. "You're stronger than this. Don't let your fear hold you back."
I clenched my fists, feeling the energy inside me flare. His words stung, but they lit a fire within me, and for the first time since I had arrived in Shadowhaven, I felt a flicker of something familiar. A hint of power that I had forgotten I possessed.
I took a deep breath and let my senses sharpen. The world around me grew clearer, more defined. The scent of the trees, the faintest rustle of movement in the grass, the steady rhythm of the pack's movements—all of it was part of me now.
"Good," Lucian said, his voice low with approval. "That's it. Let it guide you."
As the hours passed, the training began to feel less like a struggle and more like a rhythm. The wolf inside me stirred with every movement, every breath, as though it was coming alive. I was still afraid of what it might do, but I couldn't deny the strength it gave me.
"Enough for today," Lucian finally said, his tone satisfied. "You've done well."
I collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily, sweat pouring down my face. My body ached, but there was a sense of accomplishment that filled me. For the first time in a long while, I felt like I had done something right.
Lucian crouched beside me, offering me a hand. I took it gratefully, and he helped me to my feet.
"You're getting stronger," he said, his voice softer now.
"Not strong enough," I replied, glancing around the training grounds. "Not like the others."
Lucian gave me a reassuring smile. "You'll get there. Just remember—this is your journey. Don't compare yourself to anyone else."
I nodded, although the doubt still lingered in my chest.
The pack was strong, and I still wasn't sure if I would ever be able to stand beside them, but for the first time, I wasn't sure that mattered.
As we walked back toward the pack's main building, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was coming. Something dark. The shadows that had been chasing me for so long weren't done yet. But maybe, just maybe, I wasn't as powerless as I had once thought.